How dangerous is it when Teflon is scratched and worn?

Question

I've heard conflicting messages. My pans are scratched and worn some, I really don't want to replace them yet if I don't have to.

Has anyone heard of "real" reports of danger of Teflon wear?
thanks!

Answer 1

there was a study done years ago that the teflon that flakes off into food could cause cancer but i couldn't find the link. i too have pans that i just love to cook with but the majority of the teflon has worn off, i still use them.

the bottom line is almost everything we breathe, eat and wear seems to cause cancer or some other illness so its difficult to know what to do. try doing a websearch and see if you have better luck than i did finding the study that linked cancer and teflon.

i think i found it...here's the link to the cancer society's website that addresses the issue...sounds like we might have to throw away our favorite pans !

Answer 2

Scratched Teflon

Answer 3

Whether you replace your aging teflon pans is a choice. It's important to know just what teflon is. Then decide. The "conflicting" reports are not as important as simple common sense. Would you eat a plastic bag? I don't think so. Reports on whether things are dangerous are sometimes years, if not decades, behind the times. It took decades for the government to state that asbestos caused cancer even though it was anecdotally harmful to people. Men who worked in the navy yards during world war II had a high rate of a particularly vicious cancer that only showed up 30 years later. Too late for them.
Teflon is a polymer. The chemical background information for teflon is that it can be dissolved only by a fluorine gas at high temperatures or some melted metals of the heat and consistency of flowing lava from a volcano.
It's probably close to indestructible. But that doesn't mean it won't degrade.
ABC News had a report on this last year saying that the government was trying to ban the chemical that's used to make Teflon.
You can research this yourself. I think Dupont makes Teflon but they're not likely to tell you.
So, there you are, making pancakes for your loved ones and maybe little flakes of this stuff get embedded in the pancake.
Is this what anyone wants in his or her body?
I don't think so.
The alternative could be a cast iron pan made by people like Lodge. Some come pre-seasoned and others you have to season yourself. This involves putting a light coat of oil like canola or corn oil allover the cooking surface and bake the pan in the oven for about an hour at 350 degrees. Let cool in oven before removing.
The longer you use these great iron pans the smoother the surface gets. And it never flakes! A side benefit of using iron pans is that some of the iron in the pan is transmitted to whatever food is being cooked. Iron is, of course, a very necessary nutritional asset, particularly for girls and women. In the olden days people cooked everything in iron pans and few had iron deficiencies. Iron pans don't break or wear out. I have some iron pot and pans that my mother had a zillion years ago. I even use dish soap to wash them though the say you shouldn't. Instead of drying them with a cloth I put them on the stove burner for a few minutes until all the water's gone. That way they never rust. Dump the Teflon.

Answer 4

I have heard "real" reports of danger with Teflon including not only using scratched and worn, but overheating. A report came out on our local news station about a year ago that said Teflon is dangerous when heated enough to fry an egg.

Using a pot or pan that is scratched may allow pieces of the Teflon to get into the food you are cooking.

We are in the process of replacing all of our Teflon pans with stainless.

Also, NEVER use aluminum or Teflon-coated, aluminum - it's been proven to cause Alzheimer's disease!

Answer 5

As I understand it as long as the Teflon is not flaking off, they are still safe. This is what I go by after researching the topic on the net. I ruled out individual reports that were trying to get me to switch to something else than Teflon coated or research was performed by individuals that wanted to sell something or were being paid by stainless steel or some other pan manufacturer.
Unless you go to casted iron, which everthing sticks in, there are some protential problems with the make up of the pan.

Answer 6

Personally I would toss them. If they are scratched, then I would be concerned that pieces could separate and get into the food you are cooking. I wouldn't want to eat Teflon.

Answer 7

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How dangerous is it when Teflon is scratched and worn?
I've heard conflicting messages. My pans are scratched and worn some, I really don't want to replace them yet if I don't have to.

Has anyone heard of "real" reports of danger of Teflon wear?
thanks!

Answer 8

The more it gets scratched, the more likely stuff will stick. That's the danger.

The American Cancer Society website doesn't even mention Teflon or PTFE.

Answer 9

I have made gravy in my teflon pan and it is badly worn....but i'm still here and so is my hubby it has done us no harm....But if it comes off a lot then i would replace them for your health....Better safe than sorry...Hope that has been of some help..

Answer 10

You may be exposed to a little more flourine than usual. Possibly a bit more chlorine. Both are trace minerals that are not good for you at a certain level.

I think the reason they get all in a buch about not scratching the pan is because it is no longer as stick proof.

If the pan starts to make a smoke or fumes, throw it away. IT si not good for your eyes and lungs. If your eyes itch while cooking, throw it away.